Psalm 10

New Coverdale Version

Why do you stand so far off, O Lord, * and hide your face in the time of need and trouble?

The ungodly in his pride persecutes the poor; * let him be taken in the crafty schemes that he has imagined.

For the ungodly has boasted of his own heart’s desire; * the covetous holds the Lord in contempt and blasphemes his Name.

The ungodly is so proud that he cares not for God; * neither is God in any of his thoughts.

His ways are always grievous; * your judgments are far above, out of his sight, and therefore he defies all his enemies.

For he has said in his heart, “I shall never be cast down; * no harm shall happen to me.”

His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and fraud; * under his tongue are ungodliness and vanity.

He sits lurking in the thievish corners of the streets, and in his hiding places he murders the innocent; * his eyes are set against the poor.

For he lies waiting secretly, even as a lion lurks in his den, * that he may ravish the poor.

He ravishes the poor * when he gets him into his net.

The innocent is crushed and humbled before him, * and the weak cannot stand against his might.

He has said in his heart, “God has forgotten; * he hides away his face, and he will never see it.”

Arise, O Lord God, and lift up your hand; * forget not the poor.

Why should the wicked blaspheme God, * while he says in his heart, “You, O God, do not care”?

Surely you have seen it, for you behold ungodliness and wrong, * that you may take the matter into your hand.

The poor commits himself unto you, * for you are the helper of the fatherless.

Break the power of the ungodly and malicious; * search out his ungodliness until you have brought it all to light.

The Lord is King for ever and ever, * and the nations have perished out of the land.

O Lord, you have heard the desire of the poor; * you prepare their heart, and your ear hearkens to it,

To help the fatherless and poor with justice, * that the one who is of the earth may terrify no more.